Mark Richt gets raise, extension to 2017

Georgia head coach Mark Richt, center, is doused by defensive end Ray Drew (47), flanker Chris Conley (31) and free safety Marc Deas (23) after their 45-31 win over Nebraska in the Capital One Bowl.

Photo by
Associated Press/Times Free Press.

RICHT'S RAISES

Georgia football coach Mark Richt's salary through the years:

SEASONS - SALARY

2001 - $750,000

2002 - $800,000

2003-05 - $1.5 million

2006-07 - $2 million

2008-12 - $2.8 million

2013 - $3.2 million

After leading Georgia to within a whisker of its first football national championship in more than three decades, Bulldogs coach Mark Richt is receiving a raise and an extension.

The Georgia Athletic Association board of directors on Tuesday approved an increase in Richt's total compensation to $3.2 million annually. It is the athletic board's first salary hike since March 2008 for Richt, who has been making $2.81 million a year.

Georgia went 12-2 this past season, defeating Nebraska 45-31 in the Capital One Bowl after losing to Alabama 32-28 in the Southeastern Conference championship game. The No. 3 Bulldogs had the ball at the No. 2 Crimson Tide's 5-yard line when time expired, and the Tide went on to humiliate No. 1 Notre Dame 42-14 in the BCS championship game.

"Twelve wins and the manner in which he's done it -- it's just something we felt like we needed to do," Georgia athletic director Greg McGarity said.

McGarity also said a raise and a multiyear contract could be forthcoming for offensive coordinator Mike Bobo.

Richt, who turns 53 next week, has a 118-40 record through 12 seasons in Athens. He has led Georgia to two SEC titles (2002 and '05), five SEC East titles and to an 11-1 record against rival Georgia Tech.

He will be the speaker at the Fellowship of Christian Athletes' northwest Georgia banquet on Feb. 28 at the Colonnade in Ringgold. That event has been sold out for several weeks.

Another year was added to the three-year extension he received last March, so Richt is under contract through the 2017 season.

"I'm honored and very thankful to Dr. [Michael] Adams, Greg McGarity and the athletic board for their support in what we are working daily to accomplish," Richt said. "I look forward, along with our staff, to preparing this team for the challenges of another season. From what I've heard, our team is working hard in the offseason conditioning program and paying the price necessary to be successful in the fall."

At $3.2 million, Richt will be tied for 10th with new Arkansas coach Bret Bielema in total compensation among college football coaches. Alabama's Nick Saban tops that list at $5.48 million, and behind him among SEC coaches are LSU's Les Miles at $4.3 million and South Carolina's Steve Spurrier at $3.59 million.

The LSU board of directors earlier this month approved the increase for Miles, who had been making $3.75 million annually.

In another move taken by Georgia's athletic board Tuesday, the Young Alumni Ticket Program was approved. That will allow recent UGA graduates to be awarded season tickets without initially making a contribution to the Hartman Fund.